Half-duplex operation in dual connectivity

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may receive a first slot format configuration for a first cell associated with a first radio access technology (RAT) and a first radio frequency spectrum band that conflicts with a second slot format configuration for a second cell associated with a second RAT and a second radio frequency spectrum band during at least a portion of a transmission time interval (TTI). The UE may determine that the first cell has a priority over the second cell, based on the configured slot formats or based on the radio frequency bands, and may drop a communication on the second cell based on the identified priority. The UE may then communicate during at least a portion of the TTI on the first cell while the UE drops a communication on the second cell.

CROSS REFERENCE

The present Application for Patent claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/790,383 by LEE et al., entitled“HALF-DUPLEX OPERATION IN DUAL CONNECTIVITY,” filed Jan. 9, 2019, whichis assigned to the assignee hereof and expressly incorporated byreference herein.

BACKGROUND

The following relates generally to wireless communications, and tohalf-duplex operation in dual connectivity.

Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to provide varioustypes of communication content such as voice, video, packet data,messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be capable ofsupporting communication with multiple users by sharing the availablesystem resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of suchmultiple-access systems include fourth generation (4G) systems such asLong Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) systems, orLTE-A Pro systems, and fifth generation (5G) systems which may bereferred to as New Radio (NR) systems. These systems may employtechnologies such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time divisionmultiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA),orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), or discreteFourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing(DFT-S-OFDM). A wireless multiple-access communications system mayinclude a number of base stations or network access nodes, eachsimultaneously supporting communication for multiple communicationdevices, which may be otherwise known as user equipment (UE).

SUMMARY

The described techniques relate to improved methods, systems, devices,and apparatuses that support half-duplex operation in dual connectivity(DC). Generally, the described techniques provide for the prioritizationof communications for respective cells of a DC configuration. In a DCconfiguration, a single user equipment (UE) may use two or more cellsthat are respectively associated with different radio accesstechnologies (RATs), and that are each associated with a radio frequency(RF) spectrum band. A UE configured for DC may communicate using the twoor more cells, where one cell may act as a reference cell and one ormore cells may act as secondary cells.

In some cases, the UE may be configured for (e.g., may support orotherwise be constrained to) half-duplex communications, where the UEmay not support transmitting and receiving at the same time. In suchcases, the UE may be unable to handle scheduled transmissions where atleast a portion of the transmissions overlap or are scheduled to overlapin time (e.g., for at least a portion of a transmission time interval(TTI)). A cell may configure slot scheduling by transmitting a slotformat configuration (e.g., a slot format indicator (SFI)), which mayindicate the transmission direction of one or more TTIs, or portionsthereof, and each cell in a DC configuration may transmit a slot formatconfiguration to a UE. In such cases, the UE may identify, based on thereceived slot format configurations, a conflict between overlappingcommunication directions on RF spectrum bands for different cells. Insuch cases, the UE may determine that the reference cell has priorityover the secondary cell. As such, the UE may drop a communication on thesecondary cell in favor of a communication on the reference cell, basedon the priority. In some cases, the UE may determine to drop thecommunication based on an RF band or a combination of RF bands used bythe cells. Additionally or alternatively, the UE may use techniques todetermine whether to prioritize dynamically scheduled communications,which may be based on a power control type of the UE.

A method of wireless communication at a UE is described. The method mayinclude receiving a first slot format configuration for a first cell anda second slot format configuration for a second cell, the first cellbeing associated with a first RAT and a first RF spectrum band and thesecond cell being associated with a second RAT and a second RF spectrumband, identifying, for at least a portion of a TTI, a conflict between afirst communication direction on the first RF spectrum band for thefirst cell and a second communication direction on the second RFspectrum band for the second cell, determining, in response to theidentified conflict, that the first cell has a priority over the secondcell, where the priority is determined based on the first slot formatconfiguration and the second slot format configuration, or the first RFspectrum band and the second RF spectrum band, or a combination thereof,and communicating, during the at least the portion of the TTI, on thefirst cell in the first communication direction based on the first cellhaving the priority over the second cell.

An apparatus for wireless communication at a UE is described. Theapparatus may include a processor, memory in electronic communicationwith the processor, and instructions stored in the memory. Theinstructions may be executable by the processor to cause the apparatusto receive a first slot format configuration for a first cell and asecond slot format configuration for a second cell, the first cell beingassociated with a first RAT and a first RF spectrum band and the secondcell being associated with a second RAT and a second RF spectrum band,identify, for at least a portion of a TTI, a conflict between a firstcommunication direction on the first RF spectrum band for the first celland a second communication direction on the second RF spectrum band forthe second cell, determine, in response to the identified conflict, thatthe first cell has a priority over the second cell, where the priorityis determined based on the first slot format configuration and thesecond slot format configuration, or the first RF spectrum band and thesecond RF spectrum band, or a combination thereof, and communicate,during the at least the portion of the TTI, on the first cell in thefirst communication direction based on the first cell having thepriority over the second cell.

Another apparatus for wireless communication at a UE is described. Theapparatus may include means for receiving a first slot formatconfiguration for a first cell and a second slot format configurationfor a second cell, the first cell being associated with a first RAT anda first RF spectrum band and the second cell being associated with asecond RAT and a second RF spectrum band, identifying, for at least aportion of a TTI, a conflict between a first communication direction onthe first RF spectrum band for the first cell and a second communicationdirection on the second RF spectrum band for the second cell,determining, in response to the identified conflict, that the first cellhas a priority over the second cell, where the priority is determinedbased on the first slot format configuration and the second slot formatconfiguration, or the first RF spectrum band and the second RF spectrumband, or a combination thereof, and communicating, during the at leastthe portion of the TTI, on the first cell in the first communicationdirection based on the first cell having the priority over the secondcell.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wirelesscommunication at a UE is described. The code may include instructionsexecutable by a processor to receive a first slot format configurationfor a first cell and a second slot format configuration for a secondcell, the first cell being associated with a first RAT and a first RFspectrum band and the second cell being associated with a second RAT anda second RF spectrum band, identify, for at least a portion of a TTI, aconflict between a first communication direction on the first RFspectrum band for the first cell and a second communication direction onthe second RF spectrum band for the second cell, determine, in responseto the identified conflict, that the first cell has a priority over thesecond cell, where the priority is determined based on the first slotformat configuration and the second slot format configuration, or thefirst RF spectrum band and the second RF spectrum band, or a combinationthereof, and communicate, during the at least the portion of the TTI, onthe first cell in the first communication direction based on the firstcell having the priority over the second cell.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for dropping, during the atleast the portion of the TTI, a communication on the second cell in thesecond communication direction based on the identified conflict. In someexamples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, determining the prioritybased on the first RF spectrum band and the second RF spectrum band mayinclude operations, features, means, or instructions for determining thepriority based on whether the first RF spectrum band and the second RFspectrum band include a same RF spectrum band or different RF spectrumbands.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, determining the prioritybased on the first RF spectrum band and the second RF spectrum band mayinclude operations, features, means, or instructions for determining thepriority based on a separation in frequency between the first RFspectrum band and the second RF spectrum band.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, determining the prioritybased on the first RF spectrum band and the second RF spectrum band mayinclude operations, features, means, or instructions for determining thepriority based on one or more harmonic frequencies for the first RFspectrum band or the second RF spectrum band.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for determining acapability of the UE to support half-duplex communications based on thefirst RF spectrum band and the second RF spectrum band, andtransmitting, to a base station, an indication of the capability tosupport half-duplex communications.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for determining the firstcommunication direction for the at least the portion of the TTI based onthe first slot format configuration, and determining the secondcommunication direction for the at least the portion of the TTI based onthe second slot format configuration.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the first communicationdirection may be semi-statically configured, and the secondcommunication direction may be configured via radio resource control(RRC) signaling, or downlink control information (DCI), or a semi-staticSFI, or a combination thereof.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the UE may be a type 1 UE forpower control or a type 2 UE for power control, and the first RAT may bean evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) RAT and thesecond RAT may be a new radio (NR) RAT.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the first communicationdirection may be configured via RRC signaling or a semi-static SFI, or acombination thereof, and the second communication direction may besemi-statically configured.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the UE may be a type 1 UE forpower control or a type 2 UE for power control, and the first RAT may bean NR RAT and the second RAT may be an E-UTRA RAT.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the first communicationdirection may be dynamically configured and the dropping may be based onthe dynamically configured first communication direction, and the secondcommunication direction may be semi-statically configured. In someexamples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the UE may be a type 1 UE forpower control, and the first RAT may be an NR RAT and the second RAT maybe an E-UTRA RAT.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for identifying, for the atleast the portion of the TTI, one or more flexible symbols for the firstcell based on the first slot format configuration, and determining thesecond communication direction for the at least the portion of the TTIbased on the one or more flexible symbols for the first cell. In someexamples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, one or more flexible symbolsinclude a guard period.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein may further includeoperations, features, means, or instructions for identifying, for the atleast the portion of the TTI, one or more flexible symbols for thesecond cell based on the second slot format configuration, anddetermining the first communication direction for the at least theportion of the TTI based on the one or more flexible symbols for thesecond cell.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, determining that the firstcell may have the priority over the second cell may include operations,features, means, or instructions for determining that the first cell mayhave the priority over the second cell based on the first RF spectrumband and the second RF spectrum band.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, at least one of the firstcell or the second cell operate using time division duplexing (TDD). Insome examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the first cell and the secondcell may be synchronized. In some examples of the method, apparatuses,and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the firstcell includes a reference cell and the second cell includes anothercell.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitorycomputer-readable medium described herein, the reference cell includes amaster cell group (MCG) of a DC configuration including the other cell,and the other cell includes a secondary cell group (SCG) of the DCconfiguration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a system for wireless communicationsthat supports half-duplex operation in dual connectivity (DC) inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a system for wireless communicationsthat supports half-duplex operation in DC in accordance with aspects ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a process flow in a system thatsupports half-duplex operation in DC in accordance with aspects of thepresent disclosure.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show block diagrams of devices that support half-duplexoperation in DC in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of a DC manager that supports half-duplexoperation in DC in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 shows a diagram of a system including a device that supportshalf-duplex operation in DC in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIGS. 8 through 10 show flowcharts illustrating methods that supporthalf-duplex operation in DC in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In some wireless communications systems, a UE may communicate (e.g., beconfigured to communicate) according to a dual connectivity (DC)configuration. In such cases, the UE may simultaneously communicate withdifferent base stations or cells, where a first base station providing afirst cell may be referred to as a master base station and the firstcell may be referred to as a primary cell. Likewise, a second basestation providing a second cell may be referred to as a secondary basestation and the second cell may be referred to as a secondary cell. Insome cases, the different cells may also be associated with differentradio access technologies (RATs). The first and second base station maycommunicate using a first RAT and a second RAT, respectively, whereeither the first RAT or the second RAT may include, for example, LongTerm Evolution (LTE), New Radio (NR), or another RAT. Such DCdeployments may be referred to as evolved universal terrestrial radioaccess (E-UTRA) new radio (NR)-dual connectivity (EN-DC), NR E-UTRALTE-DC (NE-DC), or may include other types of multi-radio accesstechnology-DC (MR-DC)). The different cells may use the same ordifferent radio frequency (RF) bands for communications.

In some cases, however, aspects of the DC configuration may not permitthe UE to simultaneously communicate with both cells. More specifically,the UE may utilize a configuration for a first cell (e.g., a second slotformat configuration) to transmit on the first cell in the uplinkdirection at the same time the UE is to receive data in the downlinkdirection on a second cell according to another configuration for thesecond cell (e.g., a second slot format configuration). In some cases,the UE may be configured for full-duplex communications, where the UEcan transmit and receive at the same time, and may be able toaccommodate the simultaneous transmissions.

But, in cases where the UE does not support full-duplex communications(e.g., due to configuration or capability limitations), the UE mayexperience a conflict in communications directions for a period of time(e.g., for at least a portion of a particular transmission time interval(TTI), such as a symbol period, a slot, or the like). Further,half-duplex operations may be unavoidable in some cases, such as when acombination of the RF bands used for communication on each cell mayaffect the UE's ability to communicate with multiple cellssimultaneously (such as when filtering and/or rejection schemes areunavailable). Accordingly, when using half-duplex communications, uplinktransmissions may impact downlink reception at the UE, or downlinkreception may impact uplink transmission, for example, in cases where atleast a portion of the transmissions overlap or are scheduled to overlapin time.

As described herein, a reference cell may be utilized to designate apriority to a communication direction in cases where a UE that isconfigured for half-duplex operations encounters a conflict withsimultaneous communications on different cells. As an example, thereference cell may correspond to the primary cell in the DCconfiguration and the communication direction associated with thereference cell may be prioritized over one or more other communicationdirections. As an illustrative example, in an EN-DC deployment, thereference cell may correspond to an E-UTRA cell, whereas in an NE-DCdeployment, the reference cell may correspond to an NR cell.

If a conflict arises with half-duplex communications in such DCconfigurations, the UE's behavior may be further based on a powercontrol type of the UE (e.g., Type 1 or Type 2 for power control). Forinstance, the UE may prioritize communications on a cell with dynamicscheduling when the UE is a Type 1 UE (e.g., such as in cases wherescheduling information is exchanged between cells). Additionally oralternatively, a Type 1 and/or a Type 2 UE may utilize semi-staticprioritization when conflicts arise (e.g., where there may be no dynamiccoordination between cells). As such, the network may prevent conflictswith dynamic scheduling on each cell.

Aspects of the disclosure are initially described in the context ofwireless communications systems. Further examples are then provided withrespect to a process flow that illustrates handling of half-duplexcommunications in a DC deployment. Aspects of the disclosure are furtherillustrated by and described with reference to apparatus diagrams,system diagrams, and flowcharts that relate to half-duplex handling incarrier aggregation.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a wireless communications system 100that supports half-duplex operation in dual connectivity in accordancewith aspects of the present disclosure. The wireless communicationssystem 100 includes base stations 105, UEs 115, and a core network 130.In some examples, the wireless communications system 100 may be a LTEnetwork, an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network, an LTE-A Pro network, or an NRnetwork. In some cases, wireless communications system 100 may supportenhanced broadband communications, ultra-reliable (e.g., missioncritical) communications, low latency communications, or communicationswith low-cost and low-complexity devices.

Base stations 105 may wirelessly communicate with UEs 115 via one ormore base station antennas. Base stations 105 described herein mayinclude or may be referred to by those skilled in the art as a basetransceiver station, a radio base station, an access point, a radiotransceiver, a NodeB, an eNodeB (eNB), a next-generation NodeB orgiga-NodeB (either of which may be referred to as a gNB), a Home NodeB,a Home eNodeB, or some other suitable terminology. Wirelesscommunications system 100 may include base stations 105 of differenttypes (e.g., macro or small cell base stations). The UEs 115 describedherein may be able to communicate with various types of base stations105 and network equipment including macro eNBs, small cell eNBs, gNBs,relay base stations, and the like.

Each base station 105 may be associated with a particular geographiccoverage area 110 in which communications with various UEs 115 issupported. Each base station 105 may provide communication coverage fora respective geographic coverage area 110 via communication links 125,and communication links 125 between a base station 105 and a UE 115 mayutilize one or more carriers. Communication links 125 shown in wirelesscommunications system 100 may include uplink transmissions from a UE 115to a base station 105, or downlink transmissions from a base station 105to a UE 115. Downlink transmissions may also be called forward linktransmissions while uplink transmissions may also be called reverse linktransmissions.

The geographic coverage area 110 for a base station 105 may be dividedinto sectors making up a portion of the geographic coverage area 110,and each sector may be associated with a cell. For example, each basestation 105 may provide communication coverage for a macro cell, a smallcell, a hot spot, or other types of cells, or various combinationsthereof. In some examples, a base station 105 may be movable andtherefore provide communication coverage for a moving geographiccoverage area 110. In some examples, different geographic coverage areas110 associated with different technologies may overlap, and overlappinggeographic coverage areas 110 associated with different technologies maybe supported by the same base station 105 or by different base stations105. The wireless communications system 100 may include, for example, aheterogeneous LTE/LTE-A/LTE-A Pro or NR network in which different typesof base stations 105 provide coverage for various geographic coverageareas 110.

The term “cell” refers to a logical communication entity used forcommunication with a base station 105 (e.g., over a carrier), and may beassociated with an identifier for distinguishing neighboring cells(e.g., a physical cell identifier (PCID), a virtual cell identifier(VCID)) operating via the same or a different carrier. In some examples,a carrier may support multiple cells, and different cells may beconfigured according to different protocol types (e.g., machine-typecommunication (MTC), narrowband Internet-of-Things (NB-IoT), enhancedmobile broadband (eMBB), or others) that may provide access fordifferent types of devices. In some cases, the term “cell” may refer toa portion of a geographic coverage area 110 (e.g., a sector) over whichthe logical entity operates.

UEs 115 may be dispersed throughout the wireless communications system100, and each UE 115 may be stationary or mobile. A UE 115 may also bereferred to as a mobile device, a wireless device, a remote device, ahandheld device, or a subscriber device, or some other suitableterminology, where the “device” may also be referred to as a unit, astation, a terminal, or a client. A UE 115 may also be a personalelectronic device such as a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a personal computer. Insome examples, a UE 115 may also refer to a wireless local loop (WLL)station, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, an Internet of Everything(IoE) device, or an MTC device, or the like, which may be implemented invarious articles such as appliances, vehicles, meters, or the like.

Some UEs 115, such as MTC or IoT devices, may be low cost or lowcomplexity devices, and may provide for automated communication betweenmachines (e.g., via Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication). M2Mcommunication or MTC may refer to data communication technologies thatallow devices to communicate with one another or a base station 105without human intervention. In some examples, M2M communication or MTCmay include communications from devices that integrate sensors or metersto measure or capture information and relay that information to acentral server or application program that can make use of theinformation or present the information to humans interacting with theprogram or application. Some UEs 115 may be designed to collectinformation or enable automated behavior of machines. Examples ofapplications for MTC devices include smart metering, inventorymonitoring, water level monitoring, equipment monitoring, healthcaremonitoring, wildlife monitoring, weather and geological eventmonitoring, fleet management and tracking, remote security sensing,physical access control, and transaction-based business charging.

Some UEs 115 may be configured to employ operating modes that reducepower consumption, such as half-duplex communications (e.g., a mode thatsupports one-way communication via transmission or reception, but nottransmission and reception simultaneously). In some examples,half-duplex communications may be performed at a reduced peak rate.Other power conservation techniques for UEs 115 include entering a powersaving “deep sleep” mode when not engaging in active communications, oroperating over a limited bandwidth (e.g., according to narrowbandcommunications). In some cases, UEs 115 may be designed to supportcritical functions (e.g., mission critical functions), and a wirelesscommunications system 100 may be configured to provide ultra-reliablecommunications for these functions.

In some cases, a UE 115 may also be able to communicate directly withother UEs 115 (e.g., using a peer-to-peer (P2P) or device-to-device(D2D) protocol). One or more of a group of UEs 115 utilizing D2Dcommunications may be within the geographic coverage area 110 of a basestation 105. Other UEs 115 in such a group may be outside the geographiccoverage area 110 of a base station 105, or be otherwise unable toreceive transmissions from a base station 105. In some cases, groups ofUEs 115 communicating via D2D communications may utilize a one-to-many(1:M) system in which each UE 115 transmits to every other UE 115 in thegroup. In some cases, a base station 105 facilitates the scheduling ofresources for D2D communications. In other cases, D2D communications arecarried out between UEs 115 without the involvement of a base station105.

Base stations 105 may communicate with the core network 130 and with oneanother. For example, base stations 105 may interface with the corenetwork 130 through backhaul links 132 (e.g., via an S1, N2, N3, orother interface). Base stations 105 may communicate with one anotherover backhaul links 134 (e.g., via an X2, Xn, or other interface) eitherdirectly (e.g., directly between base stations 105) or indirectly (e.g.,via core network 130).

The core network 130 may provide user authentication, accessauthorization, tracking, Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity, and otheraccess, routing, or mobility functions. The core network 130 may be anevolved packet core (EPC), which may include at least one mobilitymanagement entity (MME), at least one serving gateway (S-GW), and atleast one Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway (P-GW). The MME may managenon-access stratum (e.g., control plane) functions such as mobility,authentication, and bearer management for UEs 115 served by basestations 105 associated with the EPC. User IP packets may be transferredthrough the S-GW, which itself may be connected to the P-GW. The P-GWmay provide IP address allocation as well as other functions. The P-GWmay be connected to the network operators IP services. The operators IPservices may include access to the Internet, Intranet(s), an IPMultimedia Subsystem (IMS), or a Packet-Switched (PS) Streaming Service.

At least some of the network devices, such as a base station 105, mayinclude subcomponents such as an access network entity, which may be anexample of an access node controller (ANC). Each access network entitymay communicate with UEs 115 through a number of other access networktransmission entities, which may be referred to as a radio head, a smartradio head, or a transmission/reception point (TRP). In someconfigurations, various functions of each access network entity or basestation 105 may be distributed across various network devices (e.g.,radio heads and access network controllers) or consolidated into asingle network device (e.g., a base station 105).

Wireless communications system 100 may operate using one or morefrequency bands, typically in the range of 300 megahertz (MHz) to 300gigahertz (GHz). Generally, the region from 300 MHz to 3 GHz is known asthe ultra-high frequency (UHF) region or decimeter band, since thewavelengths range from approximately one decimeter to one meter inlength. UHF waves may be blocked or redirected by buildings andenvironmental features. However, the waves may penetrate structuressufficiently for a macro cell to provide service to UEs 115 locatedindoors. Transmission of UHF waves may be associated with smallerantennas and shorter range (e.g., less than 100 km) compared totransmission using the smaller frequencies and longer waves of the highfrequency (HF) or very high frequency (VHF) portion of the spectrumbelow 300 MHz.

Wireless communications system 100 may also operate in a super highfrequency (SHF) region using frequency bands from 3 GHz to 30 GHz, alsoknown as the centimeter band. The SHF region includes bands such as the5 GHz industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) bands, which may be usedopportunistically by devices that may be capable of toleratinginterference from other users.

Wireless communications system 100 may also operate in an extremely highfrequency (EHF) region of the spectrum (e.g., from 30 GHz to 300 GHz),also known as the millimeter band. In some examples, wirelesscommunications system 100 may support millimeter wave (mmW)communications between UEs 115 and base stations 105, and EHF antennasof the respective devices may be even smaller and more closely spacedthan UHF antennas. In some cases, this may facilitate use of antennaarrays within a UE 115. However, the propagation of EHF transmissionsmay be subject to even greater atmospheric attenuation and shorter rangethan SHF or UHF transmissions. Techniques disclosed herein may beemployed across transmissions that use one or more different frequencyregions, and designated use of bands across these frequency regions maydiffer by country or regulating body.

In some cases, wireless communications system 100 may utilize bothlicensed and unlicensed radio frequency spectrum bands. For example,wireless communications system 100 may employ License Assisted Access(LAA), LTE-Unlicensed (LTE-U) radio access technology, or NR technologyin an unlicensed band such as the 5 GHz ISM band. When operating inunlicensed radio frequency spectrum bands, wireless devices such as basestations 105 and UEs 115 may employ listen-before-talk (LBT) proceduresto ensure a frequency channel is clear before transmitting data. In somecases, operations in unlicensed bands may be based on a carrieraggregation configuration in conjunction with component carriersoperating in a licensed band (e.g., LAA). Operations in unlicensedspectrum may include downlink transmissions, uplink transmissions,peer-to-peer transmissions, or a combination of these. Duplexing inunlicensed spectrum may be based on frequency division duplexing (FDD),time division duplexing (TDD), or a combination of both.

In some examples, base station 105 or UE 115 may be equipped withmultiple antennas, which may be used to employ techniques such astransmit diversity, receive diversity, multiple-input multiple-output(MIMO) communications, or beamforming. For example, wirelesscommunications system 100 may use a transmission scheme between atransmitting device (e.g., a base station 105) and a receiving device(e.g., a UE 115), where the transmitting device is equipped withmultiple antennas and the receiving device is equipped with one or moreantennas. MIMO communications may employ multipath signal propagation toincrease the spectral efficiency by transmitting or receiving multiplesignals via different spatial layers, which may be referred to asspatial multiplexing. The multiple signals may, for example, betransmitted by the transmitting device via different antennas ordifferent combinations of antennas. Likewise, the multiple signals maybe received by the receiving device via different antennas or differentcombinations of antennas. Each of the multiple signals may be referredto as a separate spatial stream, and may carry bits associated with thesame data stream (e.g., the same codeword) or different data streams.Different spatial layers may be associated with different antenna portsused for channel measurement and reporting. MIMO techniques includesingle-user MIMO (SU-MIMO) where multiple spatial layers are transmittedto the same receiving device, and multiple-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) wheremultiple spatial layers are transmitted to multiple devices.

Beamforming, which may also be referred to as spatial filtering,directional transmission, or directional reception, is a signalprocessing technique that may be used at a transmitting device or areceiving device (e.g., a base station 105 or a UE 115) to shape orsteer an antenna beam (e.g., a transmit beam or receive beam) along aspatial path between the transmitting device and the receiving device.Beamforming may be achieved by combining the signals communicated viaantenna elements of an antenna array such that signals propagating atparticular orientations with respect to an antenna array experienceconstructive interference while others experience destructiveinterference. The adjustment of signals communicated via the antennaelements may include a transmitting device or a receiving deviceapplying certain amplitude and phase offsets to signals carried via eachof the antenna elements associated with the device. The adjustmentsassociated with each of the antenna elements may be defined by abeamforming weight set associated with a particular orientation (e.g.,with respect to the antenna array of the transmitting device orreceiving device, or with respect to some other orientation).

In one example, a base station 105 may use multiple antennas or antennaarrays to conduct beamforming operations for directional communicationswith a UE 115. For instance, some signals (e.g., synchronizationsignals, reference signals, beam selection signals, or other controlsignals) may be transmitted by a base station 105 multiple times indifferent directions, which may include a signal being transmittedaccording to different beamforming weight sets associated with differentdirections of transmission. Transmissions in different beam directionsmay be used to identify (e.g., by the base station 105 or a receivingdevice, such as a UE 115) a beam direction for subsequent transmissionand/or reception by the base station 105.

Some signals, such as data signals associated with a particularreceiving device, may be transmitted by a base station 105 in a singlebeam direction (e.g., a direction associated with the receiving device,such as a UE 115). In some examples, the beam direction associated withtransmissions along a single beam direction may be determined based atleast in in part on a signal that was transmitted in different beamdirections. For example, a UE 115 may receive one or more of the signalstransmitted by the base station 105 in different directions, and the UE115 may report to the base station 105 an indication of the signal itreceived with a highest signal quality, or an otherwise acceptablesignal quality. Although these techniques are described with referenceto signals transmitted in one or more directions by a base station 105,a UE 115 may employ similar techniques for transmitting signals multipletimes in different directions (e.g., for identifying a beam directionfor subsequent transmission or reception by the UE 115), or transmittinga signal in a single direction (e.g., for transmitting data to areceiving device).

A receiving device (e.g., a UE 115, which may be an example of a mmWreceiving device) may try multiple receive beams when receiving varioussignals from the base station 105, such as synchronization signals,reference signals, beam selection signals, or other control signals. Forexample, a receiving device may try multiple receive directions byreceiving via different antenna subarrays, by processing receivedsignals according to different antenna subarrays, by receiving accordingto different receive beamforming weight sets applied to signals receivedat a plurality of antenna elements of an antenna array, or by processingreceived signals according to different receive beamforming weight setsapplied to signals received at a plurality of antenna elements of anantenna array, any of which may be referred to as “listening” accordingto different receive beams or receive directions. In some examples, areceiving device may use a single receive beam to receive along a singlebeam direction (e.g., when receiving a data signal). The single receivebeam may be aligned in a beam direction determined based at least inpart on listening according to different receive beam directions (e.g.,a beam direction determined to have a highest signal strength, highestsignal-to-noise ratio, or otherwise acceptable signal quality based atleast in part on listening according to multiple beam directions).

In some cases, the antennas of a base station 105 or UE 115 may belocated within one or more antenna arrays, which may support MIMOoperations, or transmit or receive beamforming. For example, one or morebase station antennas or antenna arrays may be co-located at an antennaassembly, such as an antenna tower. In some cases, antennas or antennaarrays associated with a base station 105 may be located in diversegeographic locations. A base station 105 may have an antenna array witha number of rows and columns of antenna ports that the base station 105may use to support beamforming of communications with a UE 115.Likewise, a UE 115 may have one or more antenna arrays that may supportvarious MIMO or beamforming operations.

In some cases, wireless communications system 100 may be a packet-basednetwork that operate according to a layered protocol stack. In the userplane, communications at the bearer or Packet Data Convergence Protocol(PDCP) layer may be IP-based. A Radio Link Control (RLC) layer mayperform packet segmentation and reassembly to communicate over logicalchannels. A Medium Access Control (MAC) layer may perform priorityhandling and multiplexing of logical channels into transport channels.The MAC layer may also use hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) toprovide retransmission at the MAC layer to improve link efficiency. Inthe control plane, the Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol layer mayprovide establishment, configuration, and maintenance of an RRCconnection between a UE 115 and a base station 105 or core network 130supporting radio bearers for user plane data. At the Physical layer,transport channels may be mapped to physical channels.

In some cases, UEs 115 and base stations 105 may support retransmissionsof data to increase the likelihood that data is received successfully.HARQ feedback is one technique of increasing the likelihood that data isreceived correctly over a communication link 125. HARQ may include acombination of error detection (e.g., using a cyclic redundancy check(CRC)), forward error correction (FEC), and retransmission (e.g.,automatic repeat request (ARQ)). HARQ may improve throughput at the MAClayer in poor radio conditions (e.g., signal-to-noise conditions). Insome cases, a wireless device may support same-slot HARQ feedback, wherethe device may provide HARQ feedback in a specific slot for datareceived in a previous symbol in the slot. In other cases, the devicemay provide HARQ feedback in a subsequent slot, or according to someother time interval.

Time intervals in LTE or NR may be expressed in multiples of a basictime unit, which may, for example, refer to a sampling period ofT_(s)=1/30,720,000 seconds. Time intervals of a communications resourcemay be organized according to radio frames each having a duration of 10milliseconds (ms), where the frame period may be expressed asT_(f)=307,200 T_(s). The radio frames may be identified by a systemframe number (SFN) ranging from 0 to 1023. Each frame may include 10subframes numbered from 0 to 9, and each subframe may have a duration of1 ms. A subframe may be further divided into 2 slots each having aduration of 0.5 ms, and each slot may contain 6 or 7 modulation symbolperiods (e.g., depending on the length of the cyclic prefix prepended toeach symbol period). Excluding the cyclic prefix, each symbol period maycontain 2048 sampling periods. In some cases, a subframe may be thesmallest scheduling unit of the wireless communications system 100, andmay be referred to as a transmission time interval (TTI). In othercases, a smallest scheduling unit of the wireless communications system100 may be shorter than a subframe or may be dynamically selected (e.g.,in bursts of shortened TTIs (sTTIs) or in selected component carriersusing sTTIs).

In some wireless communications systems, a slot may further be dividedinto multiple mini-slots containing one or more symbols. In someinstances, a symbol of a mini-slot or a mini-slot may be the smallestunit of scheduling. Each symbol may vary in duration depending on thesubcarrier spacing or frequency band of operation, for example. Further,some wireless communications systems may implement slot aggregation inwhich multiple slots or mini-slots are aggregated together and used forcommunication between a UE 115 and a base station 105.

The term “carrier” refers to a set of radio frequency spectrum resourceshaving a defined physical layer structure for supporting communicationsover a communication link 125. For example, a carrier of a communicationlink 125 may include a portion of a radio frequency spectrum band thatis operated according to physical layer channels for a given radioaccess technology. Each physical layer channel may carry user data,control information, or other signaling. A carrier may be associatedwith a pre-defined frequency channel (e.g., an evolved universal mobiletelecommunication system terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) absoluteradio frequency channel number (EARFCN)), and may be positionedaccording to a channel raster for discovery by UEs 115. Carriers may bedownlink or uplink (e.g., in an FDD mode), or be configured to carrydownlink and uplink communications (e.g., in a TDD mode). In someexamples, signal waveforms transmitted over a carrier may be made up ofmultiple sub-carriers (e.g., using multi-carrier modulation (MCM)techniques such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) ordiscrete Fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM)).

The organizational structure of the carriers may be different fordifferent radio access technologies (e.g., LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, NR).For example, communications over a carrier may be organized according toTTIs or slots, each of which may include user data as well as controlinformation or signaling to support decoding the user data. A carriermay also include dedicated acquisition signaling (e.g., synchronizationsignals or system information, etc.) and control signaling thatcoordinates operation for the carrier. In some examples (e.g., in acarrier aggregation configuration), a carrier may also have acquisitionsignaling or control signaling that coordinates operations for othercarriers.

Physical channels may be multiplexed on a carrier according to varioustechniques. A physical control channel and a physical data channel maybe multiplexed on a downlink carrier, for example, using time divisionmultiplexing (TDM) techniques, frequency division multiplexing (FDM)techniques, or hybrid TDM-FDM techniques. In some examples, controlinformation transmitted in a physical control channel may be distributedbetween different control regions in a cascaded manner (e.g., between acommon control region or common search space and one or more UE-specificcontrol regions or UE-specific search spaces).

A carrier may be associated with a particular bandwidth of the radiofrequency spectrum, and in some examples the carrier bandwidth may bereferred to as a “system bandwidth” of the carrier or the wirelesscommunications system 100. For example, the carrier bandwidth may be oneof a number of predetermined bandwidths for carriers of a particularradio access technology (e.g., 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 40, or 80 MHz). Insome examples, each served UE 115 may be configured for operating overportions or all of the carrier bandwidth. In other examples, some UEs115 may be configured for operation using a narrowband protocol typethat is associated with a predefined portion or range (e.g., set ofsubcarriers or RBs) within a carrier (e.g., “in-band” deployment of anarrowband protocol type).

In a system employing MCM techniques, a resource element may consist ofone symbol period (e.g., a duration of one modulation symbol) and onesubcarrier, where the symbol period and subcarrier spacing are inverselyrelated. The number of bits carried by each resource element may dependon the modulation scheme (e.g., the order of the modulation scheme).Thus, the more resource elements that a UE 115 receives and the higherthe order of the modulation scheme, the higher the data rate may be forthe UE 115. In MIMO systems, a wireless communications resource mayrefer to a combination of a radio frequency spectrum resource, a timeresource, and a spatial resource (e.g., spatial layers), and the use ofmultiple spatial layers may further increase the data rate forcommunications with a UE 115.

Devices of the wireless communications system 100 (e.g., base stations105 or UEs 115) may have a hardware configuration that supportscommunications over a particular carrier bandwidth, or may beconfigurable to support communications over one of a set of carrierbandwidths. In some examples, the wireless communications system 100 mayinclude base stations 105 and/or UEs 115 that support simultaneouscommunications via carriers associated with more than one differentcarrier bandwidth.

Wireless communications system 100 may support communication with a UE115 on multiple cells or carriers, a feature which may be referred to ascarrier aggregation or multi-carrier operation. A UE 115 may beconfigured with multiple downlink component carriers and one or moreuplink component carriers according to a carrier aggregationconfiguration. Carrier aggregation may be used with both FDD and TDDcomponent carriers.

In some cases, wireless communications system 100 may utilize enhancedcomponent carriers (eCCs). An eCC may be characterized by one or morefeatures including wider carrier or frequency channel bandwidth, shortersymbol duration, shorter TTI duration, or modified control channelconfiguration. In some cases, an eCC may be associated with a carrieraggregation configuration or a dual connectivity configuration (e.g.,when multiple serving cells have a suboptimal or non-ideal backhaullink). An eCC may also be configured for use in unlicensed spectrum orshared spectrum (e.g., where more than one operator is allowed to usethe spectrum). An eCC characterized by wide carrier bandwidth mayinclude one or more segments that may be utilized by UEs 115 that arenot capable of monitoring the whole carrier bandwidth or are otherwiseconfigured to use a limited carrier bandwidth (e.g., to conserve power).

In some cases, an eCC may utilize a different symbol duration than othercomponent carriers, which may include use of a reduced symbol durationas compared with symbol durations of the other component carriers. Ashorter symbol duration may be associated with increased spacing betweenadjacent subcarriers. A device, such as a UE 115 or base station 105,utilizing eCCs may transmit wideband signals (e.g., according tofrequency channel or carrier bandwidths of 20, 40, 60, 80 MHz, etc.) atreduced symbol durations (e.g., 16.67 microseconds). A TTI in eCC mayconsist of one or multiple symbol periods. In some cases, the TTIduration (that is, the number of symbol periods in a TTI) may bevariable.

Wireless communications system 100 may be an NR system that may utilizeany combination of licensed, shared, and unlicensed spectrum bands,among others. The flexibility of eCC symbol duration and subcarrierspacing may allow for the use of eCC across multiple spectrums. In someexamples, NR shared spectrum may increase spectrum utilization andspectral efficiency, specifically through dynamic vertical (e.g., acrossthe frequency domain) and horizontal (e.g., across the time domain)sharing of resources.

In wireless communications system 100, a UE 115 may communicateaccording to a DC configuration, where a reference cell associated witha first RAT and a first RF spectrum band is served by a first basestation, and one or more secondary cells associated with a second RATand a second RF spectrum band are served by a second base station. Oneor multiple cells may schedule the UE 115 based on a number ofcapabilities indicated for the UE 115. In some cases, the UE 115 may beconfigured for full-duplex communications, where the UE 115 may transmitand receive at the same time. However, if the UE 115 is configured forhalf-duplex communications, for example, because the UE 115 does notsupport full-duplex communications, then the UE 115 may not supporttransmitting and receiving at the same time. In half-duplexcommunications, uplink transmissions may impact downlink reception atthe UE 115, or downlink reception may impact uplink transmission, forexample, in cases where at least a portion of the transmissions overlapor are scheduled to overlap in time.

A cell may configure slot scheduling by transmitting a slot formatindicator (SFI), which may indicate a transmission direction of one ormore TTIs. In some cases, a slot or a symbol, or a combination thereof,may be an example of a TTI. The cell may transmit a semi-static SFI, anRRC-configured SFI, a dynamic SFI, or any combination thereof toconfigure one or more TTIs. A semi-static SFI may indicate a number ofdownlink slots, downlink symbol periods, flexible symbols, uplinksymbols, and uplink slots for the cell. The uplink and downlink symbolperiods and slots configured by the semi-static SFI may not bereconfigured, but the flexible symbols and flexible slots may bereconfigured by an RRC-configured SFI, dynamic SFI, or received grant(e.g., received via downlink control information (DCI)). Generally,dynamic scheduling (e.g., via a dynamic SFI or grant) may take priorityover RRC-configured scheduling (e.g., via an RRC-configured SFI) for thecell.

In a DC configuration, a cell may transmit an SFI or other transmissionto the UE 115 indicating scheduled transmissions in different directionsat the same time. If the UE 115 is configured to operate according tohalf-duplex communications however, the UE 115 may be unable to bothtransmit and receive at the same time as indicated by the multiple SFIs.Thus, the UE 115 may implement techniques to drop a transmissionassociated with a given cell or RAT, or to determine whether to use theallocation to transmit or receive.

A UE 115 described herein may implement techniques for half-duplexoperation in DC. For example, the UE 115 may receive one or more slotformat configurations for a first cell (e.g., a reference cell) of a DCconfiguration, where the first cell is associated with a first RAT, andmay receive one or more slot format configurations for a second cell ofa DC configuration, where the second cell is associated with a secondRAT. The UE 115 may determine that there is a scheduling conflictbetween the received slot configurations. For example, there may be aconflict in the communication directions of RF spectrum bands associatedwith the slots. In such cases, the UE 115 may further determine that thefirst cell has a priority over the second cell, and may dropcommunications on the second cell in response to the identifiedpriority. The UE 115 may then communicate using the first cell duringthe scheduled TTI.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a wireless communication system 200that supports half-duplex operation in DC in accordance with aspects ofthe present disclosure. In some examples, the wireless communicationssystem 200 may implement aspects of wireless communications system 100.For example, wireless communications system 200 includes UE 115-a, firstbase station 105-a, and second base station 105-b, which may be examplesof the corresponding devices described with reference to FIG. 1.Wireless communications system may support the prioritization ofcommunications for a reference cell in a DC configuration.

UE 115-a may communicate using a number of RFs corresponding todifferent RATs, such as in a DC deployment. In some cases, UE 115-a maybe configured to communicate using multiple cell groups within awireless network. For example, UE 115-a may communicate with a firstbase station 105-a which may provide a reference cell 205-a, associatedwith a first RAT, to UE 115-a. Further, UE 115-a may communicate with asecond base station 105-b, which may provide a secondary cell 205-b,associated with a second RAT, to UE 115-a.

In some cases, UE 115-a may be configured for half-duplex communicationsand may not support transmitting and receiving at the same time (e.g.,UE 115-a may not support two-way or full-duplex communications). In someother cases, UE 115-a may be capable of communicating using full-duplexcommunications, but UE 115-a may be restricted to use or configured touse a half-duplex configuration. In half-duplex communications, anuplink transmission at UE 115-a may impact a downlink transmissionreception, or a downlink reception may impact an uplink transmission,when both transmission and reception are scheduled to occur inoverlapping time slots.

In one example, UE 115-a may communicate using half-duplex to supportintra-band DC communications with both a first RAT and a second RATwithin a same RF spectrum band. For example, in a half-duplexcommunications deployment, UE 115-a may transmit a packet using thefirst RAT, and may receive a different packet using the second RAT,given the transmission and reception occur during non-overlapping slots(e.g., such that transmission/reception interference may not occur).

In another example, UE 115-a may communicate using half-duplex tosupport inter-band DC communications on frequencies that may bespatially close, and therefore subject to increased interference.Transmission and reception at UE 115-a in such examples may occur ondifferent frequencies during different time slots. Additionally oralternatively, UE 115-a may communicate using half-duplex to supportinter-band DC communications with a first RAT and a second RAT withindifferent RF spectrum bands that may otherwise exhibit interference orharmonics due to some RF band combinations. For example, in ahalf-duplex communications deployment, UE 115-a may transmit a packetusing the first RAT on a first RF spectrum band, and may receive atransmission using the second RAT on a second RF spectrum band. Suchexamples of a half-duplex configuration may reduce the likelihood ofinterference (e.g., signal loss, frequency harmonics) betweentransmission and reception at UE 115-a. In some examples, UE 115-a maycommunicate using half-duplex to support inter-band DC communications incases where UE 115-a may communicate according to TDD or another similarprocedure for both transmission and reception during an overlapping timeslot.

In some cases, a cell 205 associated with a first RAT (e.g., cell 205-a)may configure scheduling by transmitting an SFI 210, such as SFI 210-a,which may indicate transmission directions in one or more TTIs. SFI210-a may indicate a single transmission direction or multipletransmission directions for transmissions within a TTI. In some cases, aslot such as slot 235, or a symbol, or a combination thereof, may be anexample of a TTI. The cell may transmit a semi-static SFI, anRRC-configured SFI, a dynamic SFI, or any combination thereof toconfigure slot 235.

For some RATs, an allocation 215 may include different resources orportions corresponding to different communication directions. Forinstance, allocation 215-a may include a downlink portion 220 (e.g.,downlink symbol period), an uplink portion 230 (e.g., uplink symbolperiod), and optionally a flexible portion 225 (e.g., flexible symbolsor slot). In some cases, the uplink symbol period, downlink symbolperiod, and slots configured by the semi-static SFI may not bereconfigured, but flexible symbols and flexible slots (e.g., such asflexible slot 225) may be reconfigured by an RRC-configured SFI, dynamicSFI, or received grant (e.g., received via DCI), such that both uplinkand downlink transmissions may occur within a TTI. Each cell 205 maytransmit a semi-static SFI 210, configure slot scheduling via RRCsignaling, transmit dynamic scheduling, or any combination thereof.

Cell 205-b may also transmit an SFI 210 (e.g., SFI 210-b) which mayschedule a transmission on an allocation 215 (e.g., allocation 215-b).In some cases, allocation 215-b may overlap with allocation 215-a. Asdescribed herein, allocation 215-b may be configured to have a downlinkportion 220, a flexible portion 225, and an uplink portion 230, whichmay be based on the RAT associated with allocation 215-b. The downlinkportion 220 may include one or more downlink TTIs, and the uplinkportion 230 may include one or more uplink TTIs.

However, the SFIs 210 transmitted by the multiple cells may indicate tothe UE 115-a to transmit or receive in different directions at the sametime (e.g., according to a full-duplex configuration). If UE 115-a isconfigured to operate according to half-duplex communications, UE 115-amay be unable to transmit and receive at the same time (e.g., indifferent directions) as indicated by the multiple SFIs 210. Theinability of the UE 115-a to transmit and receive in full-duplex mayalso be based on an RF band combination configuration. For example, theUE 115-a may communicate using TDD for one transmission, and FDD for asecond transmission. Further, UE 115-a may communicate using either TDDof FDD for both first and second transmissions. In such examples, UE115-a may indicate a half-duplex capability based on the bandcombination (e.g., by transmitting an indication that UE 115-a does notsupport full-duplex communications).

Further, UE 115-a may provide an indication of an ability to supportfull-duplex operation, or whether UE 115-a is constrained to half-duplexoperation during a given time slot 235. In such cases described herein,UE 115-a may implement a number of techniques in order to maintain ahalf-duplex configuration for ongoing communications. For example, onetechnique may include UE 115-a determining whether to drop atransmission or whether to use an allocation 215 provided by an SFI 210to transmit or receive a transmission. The determination to either dropor transmit/receive a transmission may be influenced by a type of one ormore SFIs 210 received from a reference cell 205-a, a type of one ormore SFIs 210 received from a secondary cell 205-b, the transmissiondirection for the reference cell 205-a, or the transmission directionfor the secondary cell 205-b.

In an example, a reference cell 205-a, or a secondary cell 205-b, orboth, may transmit a semi-static SFI 210 to configure a set of flexibleTTIs 225, including a first TTI configured for either transmission, orreception, or both. The reference cell 205-a may transmit an SFI 210-awhich may allocate the first TTI to a first direction for the referencecell. In some examples, reference cell 205-a may exhibit a higherpriority than the secondary cell 205-b. UE 115-a may also receive one ormore SFIs 210-b from the secondary cell 205-b, where the one or moreSFIs 210 may indicate a configuration of the first TTI with respect tothe secondary cell 205-b. In some cases, the configuration for thesecondary cell 205-b may contradict the configuration for the referencecell 205-a (e.g., may indicate a different communication direction),which may result in conflicting scheduling assignments for the firstTTI. In some cases, the UE 115-a may give priority to the SFI 210-a ofreference cell 205-a over dynamic SFIs received from other secondarycells (e.g., over SFI 210-b). As such, the UE 115-a may drop theassignments or allocations 215 for the other cells 205 if theassignments or allocations 215 contradict the configuration for thereference cell 205-a.

In an example, a reference cell 205-a, or a secondary cell 205-b, orboth, may transmit a semi-static SFI to configure a set of flexible TTIs225, including a first TTI. Reference cell 205-a may transmit anRRC-configured SFI to assign the first TTI to a first direction for thereference cell. The UE 115-a may also receive one or more SFIs 210-bfrom the secondary cell 205-b which configure the first TTI for thesecondary cell. In some cases, the configuration for the secondary cell205-b may contradict (or assign the first TTI in an opposite directionfrom) the configuration for the reference cell 205-a. Thus, the UE 115-amay seem to have a conflicting scheduling assignment for the first TTI.In some cases, UE 115-a may give priority to the RRC-configured SFI ofthe reference cell over dynamic and RRC-configured SFIs received fromother cells. The UE 115-a may drop the assignments or allocations 215for the other cells if they contradict the configuration for thereference cell 205-a. In some cases, semi-static downlink may includeRRC configured downlink (e.g., physical downlink control channel (PDCCH)monitoring). In some cases, semi-static uplink may includeRRC-configured uplink (e.g., periodic channel state information (CSI)and/or sounding reference signal (SRS) transmission).

Reference cell 205-a may have different characteristics based on aspectsof an associated RAT. In one example, in an EN-DC configuration, E-UTRAmay be the reference cell 205-a or master cell group (MCG), and NR maybe the other cell 205-b or secondary cell group (SCG). In anotherexample, in an NE-DC configuration, NR may be the reference cell 205-aor MCG and E-UTRA may be the other cell 205-b or SCG.

In addition to prioritization of the reference cell 205-a and secondarycell 205-b, UE-level coordination may further be used to resolvescheduling conflict. In some cases, UE 115-a may be a type-1 UE forpower control, and may be configured to communicate using a number ofRATs. In one example, a type-1 UE may communicate with E-UTRA and NRRATs. Scheduling information may be exchanged between E-UTRA and NR, anddynamic scheduling may support prioritization of both transmissions andreceptions at the UE 115-a. In other cases, UE 115-a may be a type-2 UEfor power control, and may similarly be configured to communicate usinga number of RATs. In one example, a type-2 UE 115 may communicate usingE-UTRA and NR RATs. The type-2 UE may not be configured to support theexchange of dynamic scheduling information between E-UTRA and NR, andthus may support semi-static prioritization of transmissions andreceptions at the UE 115-a.

In a first example, UE 115-a may be configured to implementprioritization as described with reference to Table 1. UE 115-a may beconfigured as either a type-1 or type-2 UE. UE 115-a may identify ascheduling conflict between a reference cell 205-a and secondary cell205-b, and may select a cell on which to drop one or more communicationsbased on the identifying. According to the first example, UE 115-a mayselect which communication to drop based on a number of configurationsof the other cell 205-b, and UE 115-a may not determine that TTIs(assigned by the semi-static SFI) may be overwritten by dynamicsignaling.

TABLE 1 UE communication prioritization based on a number ofcommunications on a non-reference cell Reference Cell Other CellPrioritization/UE Behavior Semi-static downlink Semi-static Error Case(intra-band) uplink SFI UE is allowed to drop uplink (inter-band)Semi-static downlink RRC conf uplink UE is allowed to drop uplinkSemi-static downlink Dynamic uplink UE is allowed to drop uplink orerror case (inter-band) Error Case (intra-band) Semi-static uplinkSemi-static UE is allowed to drop downlink SFI downlink (inter-band)Error Case (intra-band) Semi-static uplink RRC-configured UE is allowedto drop downlink downlink Semi-static uplink Dynamic UE is allowed todrop downlink downlink or error case (inter-band) Error Case(intra-band) Flexible Follow NR carrier (guard period) aggregation rule

As stated, the reference cell 205-a may be an E-UTRA cell, which may besemi-statically configured for both uplink and downlink communications(e.g., no dynamic grant may be allocated). There may be no distinctionbetween type-1 and type-2 UEs operating in an E-UTRA deployment. Theother cell 205-b may be an NR cell, which may support semi-staticconfigurations of downlink and uplink transmissions based on dynamicscheduling information. In addition, RRC downlink and uplink may provideUE-specific RRC-configured settings for uplink and downlink (e.g., asearch space that is RRC-configured is RRC-configured downlink, orRRC-configured CSI reporting with uplink or downlink). Further, dynamicdownlink and uplink communications may grant UE 115-a transmissionperiods using, for example, DCI for the transmission.

In cases where the E-UTRA reference cell 205-a is configured forsemi-static downlink communications, UE 115-a may either drop thescheduled uplink transmission for inter-band, or UE 115-a may detect anerror case for intra-band. During cases where the E-UTRA reference cellis configured for semi-static uplink communications, UE 115-a may eitherdrop the scheduled downlink transmission for inter-band, or UE 115-a maydetect an error case for intra-band. During cases where the E-UTRAreference cell is configured for a flexible-guard period (e.g., E-UTRAdoes not specify uplink or downlink), UE 115-a may follow rulesspecified for NR carrier aggregation.

In a second example, UE 115-a may be configured to follow the implementprioritization as described with reference to Table 2. UE 115-a may, inthis example, be a type 1 UE. UE 115-a may identify a schedulingconflict between a reference cell 205-a and a secondary cell 205-b, andmay select a cell on which to drop communications based on theidentifying. In this example, the reference cell 205-a may be an NRcell, and the other cell 205-b may be an E-UTRA cell. According to thesecond example, UE 115-a may select a transmission to drop based on aconfiguration of the other cell 205-b, where the other cell 205-b may besemi-statically configured for uplink or downlink. In this example, UE115-a may overwrite TTIs assigned by the reference cell using dynamicprioritization or signaling. As such, UE 115-a may dynamically drop atransmission based on a number of factors, such as information providedby a grant.

TABLE 2 UE communication prioritization based on a configuration for anon-reference cell Reference Cell Other Cell Prioritization/UE BehaviorSemi-static Semi-static UE is allowed to drop uplink downlink SFI uplink(inter-band) Error Case (intra-band) RRC-configured Semi-static UE isallowed to drop uplink downlink uplink or error case Dynamic downlinkSemi-static UE is allowed to drop uplink uplink or error caseSemi-static Semi-static UE is allowed to drop uplink SFI downlinkdownlink (inter-band) Error Case (intra-band) RRC-configured Semi-staticUE is allowed to drop uplink downlink downlink or error case Dynamicuplink Semi-static UE is allowed to drop downlink downlink or error caseFlexible Follow NR carrier (guard period) aggregation rule

As described herein, the reference cell 205-a may be an NR cell, whichmay be both dynamically configured and semi-statically configured foruplink and downlink communications. The reference cell 205-a may also beRRC-configured for both uplink and downlink communications. The othercell 205-b may be an E-UTRA cell, which may support semi-staticconfigurations of downlink and uplink transmissions based on semi-staticscheduling information. Further, dynamic downlink and uplinkcommunications may grant UE transmission periods using, for example, DCIfor the transmission.

In cases where the other cell 205-b is semi-statically configured in theuplink, UE 115-a may either drop the uplink transmission from the othercell configuration (e.g., for inter-band) or may detect an error case(e.g., for intra-band). In cases where the other cell 205-b is asemi-statically configured in the downlink, UE 115-a may either drop thedownlink transmission from the other cell configuration (e.g., forinter-band) or may detect an error case (e.g., for intra-band). In caseswhere the other cell 205-b is configured for a flexible-guard period(e.g., the other cell 205-b does not specify uplink or downlink), UE115-a may follow rules specified for NR carrier aggregation.

In a third example, UE 115-a may be configured to follow implement theprioritization as described with reference to Table 3. UE 115-a may, inthis example, be a type 2 UE. UE 115-a may identify a schedulingconflict between a reference cell 205-a and a secondary cell 205-b, andmay select a cell on which to drop communications based on theidentifying. In this example, the reference cell 205-a may be an NRcell, and the other cell 205-b may be an E-UTRA cell. According to thethird example, UE 115-a may select a transmission to drop based on aconfiguration of the other cell 205-b, where the other cell may besemi-statically configured for uplink or downlink. In this example, UE115-a may not overwrite TTIs assigned by the reference cell 205-a, as nodynamic prioritization or signaling may occur for the type-2 UE case. Assuch, UE 115-a may dynamically drop a transmission based on a number offactors, such as information provided by a grant.

TABLE 3 UE communication prioritization based on one or moreconfigurations for a non-reference cell Reference Cell Other CellPrioritization/UE Behavior Semi-static Semi-static UE is allowed to dropuplink downlink SFI uplink (inter-band) Error Case (intra-band) RRC confSemi-static UE is allowed to drop uplink downlink uplink or error caseDynamic Semi-static Error Case downlink uplink Semi-static Semi-staticUE is allowed to drop uplink SFI downlink downlink (inter-band) ErrorCase (intra-band) RRC conf uplink Semi-static UE is allowed to dropdownlink downlink or error case Dynamic uplink Semi-static downlinkError Case Flexible Follow NR carrier (guard period) aggregation rule

As described herein, the reference cell 205-a may be an NR cell, whichmay be both dynamically configured and semi-statically configured foruplink and downlink communications. The reference cell 205-a may also beRRC-configured for both uplink and downlink communications. The othercell 205-b may be an E-UTRA cell, which may support semi-staticconfigurations of downlink and uplink transmissions based on semi-staticscheduling information. Further, dynamic downlink and uplinkcommunications may grant UE 115-a transmission periods using, forexample, DCI for the transmission.

In cases where the other cell 205-b is semi-statically configured in theuplink, and where the reference cell 205-a is either semi-staticallyconfigured downlink or RRC-configured in the downlink, UE 115-a mayeither drop the uplink transmission from the other cell configuration(e.g., for inter-band) or may detect an error case (e.g., forintra-band). In cases where the other cell 205-b is semi-staticallyconfigured in the uplink and the reference cell 205-a is dynamicallyconfigured in the downlink, UE 115-a may detect an error case for bothinter-band and intra-band. In cases where the other cell 205-b issemi-statically configured in the downlink, and the reference cell 205-ais either semi-statically configured downlink or RRC configureddownlink, UE 115-a may either drop the downlink transmission from theother cell configuration (e.g., for inter-band) or may detect an errorcase (e.g., for intra-band). In cases where the other cell 205-b issemi-statically configured in the downlink and the reference cell 205-ais dynamically configured in the uplink, UE 115-a may detect an errorcase for both inter-band and intra-band. Further, in cases where theother cell 205-b is configured for a flexible-guard period (e.g., theother cell 205-b does not specify uplink or downlink), UE 115-a mayfollow rules specified for NR carrier aggregation.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a process flow 300 in a system thatsupports half-duplex operation in DC in accordance with aspects of thepresent disclosure. In some examples, process flow 300 may implementaspects of wireless communications system 100. Process flow 300 mayinclude or be implemented by base stations 105-d and 105-e and UE 115-b,which may be respective examples of base stations 105 and a UE 115 asdescribed herein. In some cases, base station 105-d may provide multiplecells for UE 115-b, where each cell is associated with a RAT andcorresponding RF spectrum band configuration. In some other examples,base station 105-d may provide a cell for a first RAT and other basestations 105 (e.g., base station 105-e) may provide one or more cellsfor a second RAT and corresponding RF spectrum band configuration.

At 305, UE 115-b may receive a first slot format configuration for afirst cell associated with a first RAT and a first RF spectrum band froma first base station 105-d.

At 310, UE 115-b may receive, following reception of the first slotformat configuration, a second slot format configuration for a secondcell associated with a second RAT and a second RF spectrum band from asecond base station 105-e. In other examples, the first slot formatconfiguration and the second slot format configuration may be receivedfrom first base station 105-d (e.g., in cases where first base station105-d provides an MCG). Additionally or alternatively, the first slotformat configuration and the second slot format configuration may bereceived from second base station 105-e (e.g., in cases where secondbase station 105-e provides an MCG). In such examples, base stations105-d and/or 105-e may provide slot format configurations via dynamicsignaling on one or multiple communication links to UE 115-b (e.g., viaa dynamic grant). UE 115-b may further identify a conflict between afirst communication direction on the first RF spectrum band for thefirst cell and a second communication direction on the second RFspectrum band for the second cell for at least a portion of a TTI.

At 315, UE 115-b may determine that the first cell has a priority overthe second cell. UE 115-b may determine the priority based on the firstslot format configuration and the second slot format information, basedon the first RF spectrum band and the second RF spectrum band, or basedon any combination thereof. For example, UE 115-b may determine apriority based on the first RF spectrum band and the second RF spectrumband being the same or different RF spectrum bands.

At 320, UE 115-b may drop a communication on the second cell in thesecond communication direction based on the identified conflict betweenthe first RF spectrum band and the second RF spectrum band. In somecases, determining to drop communications on the second cell based onthe second communication direction conflicting with the firstcommunication direction may be based on a number of cell configurations.For example, determining to drop communications on the second cell maybe based on the received first slot format configuration including adynamic RRC downlink signal, and the second slot format configurationincluding a semi-static uplink or downlink configuration.

At 325, UE 115-b may communicate on the first cell in the firstcommunication direction during at least the portion of the TTI, andbased on the first cell having priority over the second cell.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram 400 of a device 405 that supportshalf-duplex operation in DC in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure. The device 405 may be an example of aspects of a UE 115 asdescribed herein. The device 405 may include a receiver 410, a DCmanager 415, and a transmitter 420. The device 405 may also include aprocessor. Each of these components may be in communication with oneanother (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver 410 may receive information such as packets, user data, orcontrol information associated with various information channels (e.g.,control channels, data channels, and information related to half-duplexoperation in DC, etc.). Information may be passed on to other componentsof the device 405. The receiver 410 may be an example of aspects of thetransceiver 720 described with reference to FIG. 7. The receiver 410 mayutilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

The DC manager 415 may receive a first slot format configuration for afirst cell and a second slot format configuration for a second cell, thefirst cell being associated with a first RAT and a first RF spectrumband and the second cell being associated with a second RAT and a secondRF spectrum band. The DC manager 415 may identify, for at least aportion of a TTI (e.g., a symbol, a slot, a mini slot), a conflictbetween a first communication direction on the first RF spectrum bandfor the first cell and a second communication direction on the second RFspectrum band for the second cell and determine, in response to theidentified conflict, that the first cell has a priority over the secondcell, where the priority is determined based on the first slot formatconfiguration and the second slot format configuration, or the first RFspectrum band and the second RF spectrum band, or a combination thereof.The DC manager 415 may communicate, during the at least the portion ofthe TTI, on the first cell in the first communication direction based onthe first cell having the priority over the second cell. The DC manager415 may be an example of aspects of the DC manager 710 described herein.

The DC manager 415, or its sub-components, may be implemented inhardware, code (e.g., software or firmware) executed by a processor, orany combination thereof. If implemented in code executed by a processor,the functions of the DC manager 415, or its sub-components may beexecuted by a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor(DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), afield-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device,discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or anycombination thereof designed to perform the functions described in thepresent disclosure.

The DC manager 415, or its sub-components, may be physically located atvarious positions, including being distributed such that portions offunctions are implemented at different physical locations by one or morephysical components. In some examples, the DC manager 415, or itssub-components, may be a separate and distinct component in accordancewith various aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, the DCmanager 415, or its sub-components, may be combined with one or moreother hardware components, including but not limited to an input/output(I/O) component, a transceiver, a network server, another computingdevice, one or more other components described in the presentdisclosure, or a combination thereof in accordance with various aspectsof the present disclosure.

The transmitter 420 may transmit signals generated by other componentsof the device 405. In some examples, the transmitter 420 may becollocated with a receiver 410 in a transceiver module. For example, thetransmitter 420 may be an example of aspects of the transceiver 720described with reference to FIG. 7. The transmitter 420 may utilize asingle antenna or a set of antennas.

The actions performed by the DC manager 415 as described herein may beimplemented to realize one or more potential advantages. For example, DCmanager 415 may support prioritization of conflicting communications(e.g., communications that overlap in time and are associated withdifferent communication directions). DC manager 415 may thus reducetransmission delays, improve transmission accuracy, and reduceretransmissions by reducing interference between conflictingcommunications. DC manager 415 may further save power and increasebattery life at a UE 115 by reducing transmission delays andretransmissions.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram 500 of a device 505 that supportshalf-duplex operation in DC in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure. The device 505 may be an example of aspects of a device 405,or a UE 115 as described herein. The device 505 may include a receiver510, a DC manager 515, and a transmitter 540. The device 505 may alsoinclude a processor. Each of these components may be in communicationwith one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver 510 may receive information such as packets, user data, orcontrol information associated with various information channels (e.g.,control channels, data channels, and information related to half-duplexoperation in DC, etc.). Information may be passed on to other componentsof the device 505. The receiver 510 may be an example of aspects of thetransceiver 720 described with reference to FIG. 7. The receiver 510 mayutilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

The DC manager 515 may be an example of aspects of the DC manager 415 asdescribed herein. The DC manager 515 may include a slot formatconfiguration receiving component 520, a communication direction manager525, a cell priority component 530, and a communications manager 535.The DC manager 515 may be an example of aspects of the DC manager 710described herein.

The slot format configuration receiving component 520 may receive afirst slot format configuration for a first cell and a second slotformat configuration for a second cell, the first cell being associatedwith a first RAT and a first RF spectrum band and the second cell beingassociated with a second RAT and a second RF spectrum band.

The communication direction manager 525 may identify, for at least aportion of a TTI, a conflict between a first communication direction onthe first RF spectrum band for the first cell and a second communicationdirection on the second RF spectrum band for the second cell.

The cell priority component 530 may determine, in response to theidentified conflict, that the first cell has a priority over the secondcell, where the priority is determined based on the first slot formatconfiguration and the second slot format configuration, or the first RFspectrum band and the second RF spectrum band, or a combination thereof.

The communications manager 535 may communicate, during the at least theportion of the TTI, on the first cell in the first communicationdirection based on the first cell having the priority over the secondcell.

The transmitter 540 may transmit signals generated by other componentsof the device 505. In some examples, the transmitter 540 may becollocated with a receiver 510 in a transceiver module. For example, thetransmitter 540 may be an example of aspects of the transceiver 720described with reference to FIG. 7. The transmitter 540 may utilize asingle antenna or a set of antennas.

A processor of a UE 115 (e.g., controlling the receiver 510, thetransmitter 540, or the transceiver 720 as described with reference toFIG. 7) may increase communication reliability and accuracy bysupporting prioritization of conflicting communications, which mayincrease reliability and reduce latency (e.g., via implementation ofsystem components described with reference to FIG. 6). Further, theprocessor of the UE 115 may identify one or more aspects of aprioritization scheme (e.g., one or more cell or communicationpriorities) to perform the processes described herein. The processor ofthe UE 115 may identify a cell priority, which may save power andincrease battery life at the UE 115 (e.g., by implementing reducinginterference between conflicting communications at the UE 115).

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram 600 of a DC manager 605 that supportshalf-duplex operation in DC in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure. The DC manager 605 may be an example of aspects of a DCmanager 415, a DC manager 515, or a DC manager 710 described herein. TheDC manager 605 may include a slot format configuration receivingcomponent 610, a communication direction manager 615, a cell prioritycomponent 620, a communications manager 625, and a capability component630. Each of these modules may communicate, directly or indirectly, withone another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The slot format configuration receiving component 610 may receive afirst slot format configuration for a first cell and a second slotformat configuration for a second cell, the first cell being associatedwith a first RAT and a first RF spectrum band and the second cell beingassociated with a second RAT and a second RF spectrum band. In somecases, the UE is a type 1 UE for power control or a type 2 UE for powercontrol. In some cases, the first RAT is an E-UTRA RAT, and the secondRAT is an NR RAT. Alternatively, the first RAT may be an NR RAT and thesecond RAT may be an E-UTRA RAT.

In some examples, the slot format configuration receiving component 610may identify, for the at least the portion of the TTI, one or moreflexible symbols for the first cell based on the first slot formatconfiguration. In some examples, the slot format configuration receivingcomponent 610 may identify, for the at least the portion of the TTI, oneor more flexible symbols for the second cell based on the second slotformat configuration. In some cases, one or more flexible symbolsinclude a guard period.

The communication direction manager 615 may identify, for at least aportion of a TTI, a conflict between a first communication direction onthe first RF spectrum band for the first cell and a second communicationdirection on the second RF spectrum band for the second cell. In someexamples, the communication direction manager 615 may determine thefirst communication direction for the at least the portion of the TTIbased on the first slot format configuration. In some examples, thecommunication direction manager 615 may determine the secondcommunication direction for the at least the portion of the TTI based onthe second slot format configuration.

In some examples, the communication direction manager 615 may determinethe second communication direction for the at least the portion of theTTI based on the one or more flexible symbols for the first cell. Insome examples, the communication direction manager 615 may determine thefirst communication direction for the at least the portion of the TTIbased on the one or more flexible symbols for the second cell. In somecases, the first communication direction is semi-statically configured.In some cases, the second communication direction is configured via RRCsignaling, or DCI, or a semi-static SFI, or a combination thereof.Additionally or alternatively, the first communication direction isconfigured via RRC signaling or a semi-static SFI, or a combinationthereof. Additionally, the second communication direction may besemi-statically configured.

The cell priority component 620 may determine, in response to theidentified conflict, that the first cell has a priority over the secondcell, where the priority is determined based on the first slot formatconfiguration and the second slot format configuration, or the first RFspectrum band and the second RF spectrum band, or a combination thereof.In some examples, the cell priority component 620 may drop, during theat least the portion of the TTI, a communication on the second cell inthe second communication direction based on the identified conflict. Insome cases, the first communication direction is dynamically configured,and the dropping is based on the dynamically configured firstcommunication direction.

In some examples, the cell priority component 620 may determine thepriority based on whether the first RF spectrum band and the second RFspectrum band include a same RF spectrum band or different RF spectrumbands. In some examples, the cell priority component 620 may determinethe priority based on a separation in frequency between the first RFspectrum band and the second RF spectrum band. In some examples, thecell priority component 620 may determine the priority based on one ormore harmonic frequencies for the first RF spectrum band or the secondRF spectrum band. In some examples, the cell priority component 620 maydetermine that the first cell has the priority over the second cellbased on the first RF spectrum band and the second RF spectrum band.

The communications manager 625 may communicate, during the at least theportion of the TTI, on the first cell in the first communicationdirection based on the first cell having the priority over the secondcell. In some cases, at least one of the first cell or the second celloperate using TDD. In some cases, the first cell and the second cell aresynchronized. In some cases, the first cell includes a reference celland the second cell includes another cell. In some cases, the referencecell includes an MCG of a DC configuration including the other cell, andthe other cell includes an SCG of the DC configuration.

The capability component 630 may determine a capability of the UE tosupport half-duplex communications based on the first RF spectrum bandand the second RF spectrum band. In some examples, the capabilitycomponent 630 may transmit, to a base station, an indication of thecapability to support half-duplex communications.

FIG. 7 shows a diagram of a system 700 including a device 705 thatsupports half-duplex operation in DC in accordance with aspects of thepresent disclosure. The device 705 may be an example of or include thecomponents of device 405, device 505, or a UE 115 as described herein.The device 705 may include components for bi-directional voice and datacommunications including components for transmitting and receivingcommunications, including a DC manager 710, an I/O controller 715, atransceiver 720, an antenna 725, memory 730, and a processor 740. Thesecomponents may be in electronic communication via one or more buses(e.g., bus 745).

The DC manager 710 may receive a first slot format configuration for afirst cell and a second slot format configuration for a second cell, thefirst cell being associated with a first RAT and a first RF spectrumband and the second cell being associated with a second RAT and a secondRF spectrum band, identify, for at least a portion of a TTI, a conflictbetween a first communication direction on the first RF spectrum bandfor the first cell and a second communication direction on the second RFspectrum band for the second cell, determine, in response to theidentified conflict, that the first cell has a priority over the secondcell, where the priority is determined based on the first slot formatconfiguration and the second slot format configuration, or the first RFspectrum band and the second RF spectrum band, or a combination thereof,and communicate, during the at least the portion of the TTI, on thefirst cell in the first communication direction based on the first cellhaving the priority over the second cell.

The I/O controller 715 may manage input and output signals for thedevice 705. The I/O controller 715 may also manage peripherals notintegrated into the device 705. In some cases, the I/O controller 715may represent a physical connection or port to an external peripheral.In some cases, the I/O controller 715 may utilize an operating systemsuch as iOS®, ANDROID®, MS-DOS®, MS-WINDOWS®, OS/2®, UNIX®, LINUX®, oranother known operating system. In other cases, the I/O controller 715may represent or interact with a modem, a keyboard, a mouse, atouchscreen, or a similar device. In some cases, the I/O controller 715may be implemented as part of a processor. In some cases, a user mayinteract with the device 705 via the I/O controller 715 or via hardwarecomponents controlled by the I/O controller 715.

The transceiver 720 may communicate bi-directionally, via one or moreantennas, wired, or wireless links as described herein. For example, thetransceiver 720 may represent a wireless transceiver and may communicatebi-directionally with another wireless transceiver. The transceiver 720may also include a modem to modulate the packets and provide themodulated packets to the antennas for transmission, and to demodulatepackets received from the antennas. In some cases, the wireless devicemay include a single antenna 725. However, in some cases the device mayhave more than one antenna 725, which may be capable of concurrentlytransmitting or receiving multiple wireless transmissions.

The memory 730 may include random access memory (RAM) and read onlymemory (ROM). The memory 730 may store computer-readable,computer-executable code 735 including instructions that, when executed,cause the processor to perform various functions described herein. Insome cases, the memory 730 may contain, among other things, a basic I/Osystem (BIOS) which may control basic hardware or software operationsuch as the interaction with peripheral components or devices.

The processor 740 may include an intelligent hardware device, (e.g., ageneral-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, a microcontroller, an ASIC, anFPGA, a programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logiccomponent, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof).In some cases, the processor 740 may be configured to operate a memoryarray using a memory controller. In other cases, a memory controller maybe integrated into the processor 740. The processor 740 may beconfigured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory(e.g., the memory 730) to cause the device 705 to perform variousfunctions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting half-duplex operation inDC).

The code 735 may include instructions to implement aspects of thepresent disclosure, including instructions to support wirelesscommunications. The code 735 may be stored in a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium such as system memory or other type of memory.In some cases, the code 735 may not be directly executable by theprocessor 740 but may cause a computer (e.g., when compiled andexecuted) to perform functions described herein.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 800 that supportshalf-duplex operation in DC in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure. The operations of method 800 may be implemented by a UE 115or its components as described herein. For example, the operations ofmethod 800 may be performed by a DC manager as described with referenceto FIGS. 4 through 7. In some examples, a UE may execute a set ofinstructions to control the functional elements of the UE to perform thefunctions described herein. Additionally or alternatively, a UE mayperform aspects of the functions described herein using special-purposehardware.

At 805, the UE may receive a first slot format configuration for a firstcell and a second slot format configuration for a second cell, the firstcell being associated with a first RAT and a first RF spectrum band andthe second cell being associated with a second RAT and a second RFspectrum band. The operations of 805 may be performed according to themethods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of805 may be performed by a slot format configuration receiving componentas described with reference to FIGS. 4 through 7.

At 810, the UE may identify, for at least a portion of a TTI, a conflictbetween a first communication direction on the first RF spectrum bandfor the first cell and a second communication direction on the second RFspectrum band for the second cell. The operations of 810 may beperformed according to the methods described herein. In some examples,aspects of the operations of 810 may be performed by a communicationdirection manager as described with reference to FIGS. 4 through 7.

At 815, the UE may determine, in response to the identified conflict,that the first cell has a priority over the second cell, where thepriority is determined based on the first slot format configuration andthe second slot format configuration, or the first RF spectrum band andthe second RF spectrum band, or a combination thereof. The operations of815 may be performed according to the methods described herein. In someexamples, aspects of the operations of 815 may be performed by a cellpriority component as described with reference to FIGS. 4 through 7.

At 820, the UE may communicate, during the at least the portion of theTTI, on the first cell in the first communication direction based on thefirst cell having the priority over the second cell. The operations of820 may be performed according to the methods described herein. In someexamples, aspects of the operations of 820 may be performed by acommunications manager as described with reference to FIGS. 4 through 7.

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 900 that supportshalf-duplex operation in DC in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure. The operations of method 900 may be implemented by a UE 115or its components as described herein. For example, the operations ofmethod 900 may be performed by a DC manager as described with referenceto FIGS. 4 through 7. In some examples, a UE may execute a set ofinstructions to control the functional elements of the UE to perform thefunctions described herein. Additionally or alternatively, a UE mayperform aspects of the functions described herein using special-purposehardware.

At 905, the UE may receive a first slot format configuration for a firstcell and a second slot format configuration for a second cell, the firstcell being associated with a first RAT and a first RF spectrum band andthe second cell being associated with a second RAT and a second RFspectrum band. The operations of 905 may be performed according to themethods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of905 may be performed by a slot format configuration receiving componentas described with reference to FIGS. 4 through 7.

At 910, the UE may identify, for at least a portion of a TTI, a conflictbetween a first communication direction on the first RF spectrum bandfor the first cell and a second communication direction on the second RFspectrum band for the second cell. The operations of 910 may beperformed according to the methods described herein. In some examples,aspects of the operations of 910 may be performed by a communicationdirection manager as described with reference to FIGS. 4 through 7.

At 915, the UE may determine, in response to the identified conflict,that the first cell has a priority over the second cell, where thepriority is determined based on the first slot format configuration andthe second slot format configuration, or the first RF spectrum band andthe second RF spectrum band, or a combination thereof. The operations of915 may be performed according to the methods described herein. In someexamples, aspects of the operations of 915 may be performed by a cellpriority component as described with reference to FIGS. 4 through 7.

At 920, the UE may drop, during the at least the portion of the TTI, acommunication on the second cell in the second communication directionbased on the identified conflict. The operations of 920 may be performedaccording to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects ofthe operations of 920 may be performed by a cell priority component asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 4 through 7.

At 925, the UE may communicate, during the at least the portion of theTTI, on the first cell in the first communication direction based on thefirst cell having the priority over the second cell. The operations of925 may be performed according to the methods described herein. In someexamples, aspects of the operations of 925 may be performed by acommunications manager as described with reference to FIGS. 4 through 7.

FIG. 10 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1000 that supportshalf-duplex operation in DC in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure. The operations of method 1000 may be implemented by a UE 115or its components as described herein. For example, the operations ofmethod 1000 may be performed by a DC manager as described with referenceto FIGS. 4 through 7. In some examples, a UE may execute a set ofinstructions to control the functional elements of the UE to perform thefunctions described herein. Additionally or alternatively, a UE mayperform aspects of the functions described herein using special-purposehardware.

At 1005, the UE may receive a first slot format configuration for afirst cell and a second slot format configuration for a second cell, thefirst cell being associated with a first RAT and a first RF spectrumband and the second cell being associated with a second RAT and a secondRF spectrum band. The operations of 1005 may be performed according tothe methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of theoperations of 1005 may be performed by a slot format configurationreceiving component as described with reference to FIGS. 4 through 7.

At 1010, the UE may determine the first communication direction for theat least the portion of the TTI based on the first slot formatconfiguration. The operations of 1010 may be performed according to themethods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1010 may be performed by a communication direction manager as describedwith reference to FIGS. 4 through 7.

At 1015, the UE may determine the second communication direction for theat least the portion of the TTI based on the second slot formatconfiguration. The operations of 1015 may be performed according to themethods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1015 may be performed by a communication direction manager as describedwith reference to FIGS. 4 through 7.

At 1020, the UE may identify, for at least a portion of a TTI, aconflict between a first communication direction on the first RFspectrum band for the first cell and a second communication direction onthe second RF spectrum band for the second cell. The operations of 1020may be performed according to the methods described herein. In someexamples, aspects of the operations of 1020 may be performed by acommunication direction manager as described with reference to FIGS. 4through 7.

At 1025, the UE may determine, in response to the identified conflict,that the first cell has a priority over the second cell, where thepriority is determined based on the first slot format configuration andthe second slot format configuration, or the first RF spectrum band andthe second RF spectrum band, or a combination thereof. The operations of1025 may be performed according to the methods described herein. In someexamples, aspects of the operations of 1025 may be performed by a cellpriority component as described with reference to FIGS. 4 through 7.

At 1030, the UE may communicate, during the at least the portion of theTTI, on the first cell in the first communication direction based on thefirst cell having the priority over the second cell. The operations of1030 may be performed according to the methods described herein. In someexamples, aspects of the operations of 1030 may be performed by acommunications manager as described with reference to FIGS. 4 through 7.

It should be noted that the methods described herein describe possibleimplementations, and that the operations and the steps may be rearrangedor otherwise modified and that other implementations are possible.Further, aspects from two or more of the methods may be combined.

Techniques described herein may be used for various wirelesscommunications systems such as code division multiple access (CDMA),time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access(FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), singlecarrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA), and other systems.A CDMA system may implement a radio technology such as CDMA2000,Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), etc. CDMA2000 covers IS-2000,IS-95, and IS-856 standards. IS-2000 Releases may be commonly referredto as CDMA2000 1×, 1×, etc. IS-856 (TIA-856) is commonly referred to asCDMA2000 1×EV-DO, High Rate Packet Data (HRPD), etc. UTRA includesWideband CDMA (WCDMA) and other variants of CDMA. A TDMA system mayimplement a radio technology such as Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM).

An OFDMA system may implement a radio technology such as Ultra MobileBroadband (UMB), Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE802.20, Flash-OFDM, etc. UTRA and E-UTRA are part of Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS). LTE, LTE-A, and LTE-A Pro are releasesof UMTS that use E-UTRA. UTRA, E-UTRA, UMTS, LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, NR,and GSM are described in documents from the organization named “3rdGeneration Partnership Project” (3GPP). CDMA2000 and UMB are describedin documents from an organization named “3rd Generation PartnershipProject 2” (3GPP2). The techniques described herein may be used for thesystems and radio technologies mentioned herein as well as other systemsand radio technologies. While aspects of an LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NRsystem may be described for purposes of example, and LTE, LTE-A, LTE-APro, or NR terminology may be used in much of the description, thetechniques described herein are applicable beyond LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro,or NR applications.

A macro cell generally covers a relatively large geographic area (e.g.,several kilometers in radius) and may allow unrestricted access by UEswith service subscriptions with the network provider. A small cell maybe associated with a lower-powered base station, as compared with amacro cell, and a small cell may operate in the same or different (e.g.,licensed, unlicensed, etc.) frequency bands as macro cells. Small cellsmay include pico cells, femto cells, and micro cells according tovarious examples. A pico cell, for example, may cover a small geographicarea and may allow unrestricted access by UEs with service subscriptionswith the network provider. A femto cell may also cover a smallgeographic area (e.g., a home) and may provide restricted access by UEshaving an association with the femto cell (e.g., UEs in a closedsubscriber group (CSG), UEs for users in the home, and the like). An eNBfor a macro cell may be referred to as a macro eNB. An eNB for a smallcell may be referred to as a small cell eNB, a pico eNB, a femto eNB, ora home eNB. An eNB may support one or multiple (e.g., two, three, four,and the like) cells, and may also support communications using one ormultiple component carriers.

The wireless communications systems described herein may supportsynchronous or asynchronous operation. For synchronous operation, thebase stations may have similar frame timing, and transmissions fromdifferent base stations may be approximately aligned in time. Forasynchronous operation, the base stations may have different frametiming, and transmissions from different base stations may not bealigned in time. The techniques described herein may be used for eithersynchronous or asynchronous operations.

Information and signals described herein may be represented using any ofa variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data,instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chipsthat may be referenced throughout the description may be represented byvoltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles,optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

The various illustrative blocks and modules described in connection withthe disclosure herein may be implemented or performed with ageneral-purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, an FPGA, or otherprogrammable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discretehardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform thefunctions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be amicroprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be anyconventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. Aprocessor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices(e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiplemicroprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSPcore, or any other such configuration).

The functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, softwareexecuted by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. Ifimplemented in software executed by a processor, the functions may bestored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on acomputer-readable medium. Other examples and implementations are withinthe scope of the disclosure and appended claims. For example, due to thenature of software, functions described herein can be implemented usingsoftware executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hardwiring, orcombinations of any of these. Features implementing functions may alsobe physically located at various positions, including being distributedsuch that portions of functions are implemented at different physicallocations.

Computer-readable media includes both non-transitory computer storagemedia and communication media including any medium that facilitatestransfer of a computer program from one place to another. Anon-transitory storage medium may be any available medium that can beaccessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. By way ofexample, and not limitation, non-transitory computer-readable media mayinclude RAM, ROM, electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flashmemory, compact disk (CD) ROM or other optical disk storage, magneticdisk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any othernon-transitory medium that can be used to carry or store desired programcode means in the form of instructions or data structures and that canbe accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, or ageneral-purpose or special-purpose processor. Also, any connection isproperly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the softwareis transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using acoaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line(DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave,then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, orwireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave areincluded in the definition of medium. Disk and disc, as used herein,include CD, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD),floppy disk and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce datamagnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.Combinations of the above are also included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media.

As used herein, including in the claims, “or” as used in a list of items(e.g., a list of items prefaced by a phrase such as “at least one of” or“one or more of”) indicates an inclusive list such that, for example, alist of at least one of A, B, or C means A or B or C or AB or AC or BCor ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Also, as used herein, the phrase “basedon” shall not be construed as a reference to a closed set of conditions.For example, an exemplary step that is described as “based on conditionA” may be based on both a condition A and a condition B withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, asused herein, the phrase “based on” shall be construed in the same manneras the phrase “based at least in part on.”

In the appended figures, similar components or features may have thesame reference label. Further, various components of the same type maybe distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a secondlabel that distinguishes among the similar components. If just the firstreference label is used in the specification, the description isapplicable to any one of the similar components having the same firstreference label irrespective of the second reference label, or othersubsequent reference label.

The description set forth herein, in connection with the appendeddrawings, describes example configurations and does not represent allthe examples that may be implemented or that are within the scope of theclaims. The term “exemplary” used herein means “serving as an example,instance, or illustration,” and not “preferred” or “advantageous overother examples.” The detailed description includes specific details forthe purpose of providing an understanding of the described techniques.These techniques, however, may be practiced without these specificdetails. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shownin block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of thedescribed examples.

The description herein is provided to enable a person skilled in the artto make or use the disclosure. Various modifications to the disclosurewill be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the genericprinciples defined herein may be applied to other variations withoutdeparting from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is notlimited to the examples and designs described herein, but is to beaccorded the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novelfeatures disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for wireless communication at a userequipment (UE), comprising: receiving a first slot format configurationfor a first cell and a second slot format configuration for a secondcell, the first cell being associated with a first radio accesstechnology (RAT) and a first radio frequency (RF) spectrum band and thesecond cell being associated with a second RAT and a second RF spectrumband; identifying, for at least a portion of a transmission timeinterval (TTI) and based at least in part on the first slot formatconfiguration and the second slot format configuration, a conflict forcommunications scheduled for the UE, the conflict between a firstcommunication direction for the UE and the first cell on the first RFspectrum band and a second communication direction for the UE and thesecond cell on the second RF spectrum band; determining, in response tothe identified conflict, that the first cell has a priority over thesecond cell, wherein the priority is determined based at least in parton the first slot format configuration and the second slot formatconfiguration, or the first RF spectrum band and the second RF spectrumband, or a combination thereof; and communicating, during the portion ofthe TTI and based at least in part on the first slot formatconfiguration, on the first cell in the first communication directionbased at least in part on the first cell having the priority over thesecond cell.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: dropping,during the portion of the TTI, a communication on the second cell in thesecond communication direction based at least in part on the identifiedconflict.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the prioritybased at least in part on the first RF spectrum band and the second RFspectrum band comprises: determining the priority based at least in parton whether the first RF spectrum band and the second RF spectrum bandcomprise a same RF spectrum band or different RF spectrum bands.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein determining the priority based at least inpart on the first RF spectrum band and the second RF spectrum bandcomprises: determining the priority based at least in part on aseparation in frequency between the first RF spectrum band and thesecond RF spectrum band.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein determiningthe priority based at least in part on the first RF spectrum band andthe second RF spectrum band comprises: determining the priority based atleast in part on one or more harmonic frequencies for the first RFspectrum band or the second RF spectrum band.
 6. The method of claim 1,further comprising: determining a capability of the UE to supporthalf-duplex communications based at least in part on the first RFspectrum band and the second RF spectrum band; and transmitting, to abase station, an indication of the capability to support half-duplexcommunications.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:determining the first communication direction for the portion of the TTIbased at least in part on the first slot format configuration; anddetermining the second communication direction for the portion of theTTI based at least in part on the second slot format configuration. 8.The method of claim 7, wherein: the first communication direction issemi-statically configured; and the second communication direction isconfigured via radio resource control (RRC) signaling, or downlinkcontrol information (DCI), or a semi-static slot format indicator (SFI),or a combination thereof.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein: the UE is atype 1 UE for power control or a type 2 UE for power control; and thefirst RAT is an evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) RATand the second RAT is a new radio (NR) RAT.
 10. The method of claim 7,wherein: the first communication direction is configured via radioresource control (RRC) signaling or a semi-static slot format indicator(SFI), or a combination thereof; and the second communication directionis semi-statically configured.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein: theUE is a type 1 UE for power control or a type 2 UE for power control;and the first RAT is a new radio (NR) RAT and the second RAT is anevolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) RAT.
 12. The methodof claim 7, wherein: the first communication direction is dynamicallyconfigured and a communication on the second cell in the secondcommunication direction is dropped based at least in part on thedynamically configured first communication direction; and the secondcommunication direction is semi-statically configured.
 13. The method ofclaim 12, wherein: the UE is a type 1 UE for power control; and thefirst RAT is a new radio (NR) RAT and the second RAT is an evolveduniversal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) RAT.
 14. The method of claim1, further comprising: identifying, for the portion of the TTI, one ormore flexible symbols for the first cell based at least in part on thefirst slot format configuration; and determining the secondcommunication direction for the portion of the TTI based at least inpart on the one or more flexible symbols for the first cell.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, wherein the one or more flexible symbols comprise aguard period.
 16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:identifying, for the portion of the TTI, one or more flexible symbolsfor the second cell based at least in part on the second slot formatconfiguration; and determining the first communication direction for theportion of the TTI based at least in part on the one or more flexiblesymbols for the second cell.
 17. The method of claim 1, whereindetermining that the first cell has the priority over the second cellcomprises: determining that the first cell has the priority over thesecond cell based at least in part on the first RF spectrum band and thesecond RF spectrum band.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein at least oneof the first cell or the second cell operate using time divisionduplexing (TDD).
 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the first cell andthe second cell are synchronized.
 20. The method of claim 1, wherein thefirst cell comprises a reference cell and the second cell comprisesanother cell.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the reference cellcomprises a master cell group (MCG) of a dual connectivity configurationincluding the other cell, and the other cell comprises a secondary cellgroup (SCG) of the dual connectivity configuration.
 22. An apparatus forwireless communication at a user equipment (UE), comprising: aprocessor, memory coupled with the processor; a transceiver configuredto receive a first slot format configuration for a first cell and asecond slot format configuration for a second cell, the first cell beingassociated with a first radio access technology (RAT) and a first radiofrequency (RF) spectrum band and the second cell being associated with asecond RAT and a second RF spectrum band; and instructions stored in thememory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:identify, for at least a portion of a transmission time interval (TTI)and based at least in part on the first slot format configuration andthe second slot format configuration, a conflict for communicationsscheduled for the UE, the conflict between a first communicationdirection for the UE and the first cell on the first RF spectrum bandand a second communication direction for the UE and the second cell onthe second RF spectrum band; and determine, in response to theidentified conflict, that the first cell has a priority over the secondcell, wherein the priority is determined based at least in part on thefirst slot format configuration and the second slot formatconfiguration, or the first RF spectrum band and the second RF spectrumband, or a combination thereof; wherein the transceiver is furtherconfigured to communicate, during the portion of the TTI and based atleast in part on the first slot format configuration, on the first cellin the first communication direction based at least in part on the firstcell having the priority over the second cell.
 23. The apparatus ofclaim 22, wherein the instructions are further executable by theprocessor to cause the apparatus to: drop, during the portion of theTTI, a communication on the second cell in the second communicationdirection based at least in part on the identified conflict.
 24. Theapparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructions to determine thepriority based at least in part on the first RF spectrum band and thesecond RF spectrum band are executable by the processor to cause theapparatus to: determine the priority based at least in part on whetherthe first RF spectrum band and the second RF spectrum band comprise asame RF spectrum band or different RF spectrum bands.
 25. The apparatusof claim 22, wherein the instructions to determine the priority based atleast in part on the first RF spectrum band and the second RF spectrumband are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:determine the priority based at least in part on one or more harmonicfrequencies for the first RF spectrum band or the second RF spectrumband.
 26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructions arefurther executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: determinethe first communication direction for the portion of the TTI based atleast in part on the first slot format configuration; and determine thesecond communication direction for the portion of the TTI based at leastin part on the second slot format configuration.
 27. The apparatus ofclaim 26, wherein: the first communication direction is semi-staticallyconfigured; and the second communication direction is configured viaradio resource control (RRC) signaling, or downlink control information(DCI), or a semi-static slot format indicator (SFI), or a combinationthereof.
 28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructions todetermine that the first cell has the priority over the second cell areexecutable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: determine thatthe first cell has the priority over the second cell based at least inpart on the first RF spectrum band and the second RF spectrum band. 29.An apparatus for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE),comprising: means for receiving a first slot format configuration for afirst cell and a second slot format configuration for a second cell, thefirst cell being associated with a first radio access technology (RAT)and a first radio frequency (RF) spectrum band and the second cell beingassociated with a second RAT and a second RF spectrum band; means foridentifying, for at least a portion of a transmission time interval(TTI) and based at least in part on the first slot format configurationand the second slot format configuration, a conflict for communicationsscheduled for the UE, the conflict between a first communicationdirection for the UE and the first cell on the first RF spectrum bandand a second communication direction for the UE and the second cell onthe second RF spectrum band; means for determining, in response to theidentified conflict, that the first cell has a priority over the secondcell, wherein the priority is determined based at least in part on thefirst slot format configuration and the second slot formatconfiguration, or the first RF spectrum band and the second RF spectrumband, or a combination thereof; and means for communicating, during theportion of the TTI and based at least in part on the first slot formatconfiguration, on the first cell in the first communication directionbased at least in part on the first cell having the priority over thesecond cell.
 30. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing codefor wireless communication at a user equipment (UE), the code comprisinginstructions executable by a processor to: receive a first slot formatconfiguration for a first cell and a second slot format configurationfor a second cell, the first cell being associated with a first radioaccess technology (RAT) and a first radio frequency (RF) spectrum bandand the second cell being associated with a second RAT and a second RFspectrum band; identify, for at least a portion of a transmission timeinterval (TTI) and based at least in part on the first slot formatconfiguration and the second slot format configuration, a conflict forcommunications scheduled for the UE, the conflict between a firstcommunication direction for the UE and the first cell on the first RFspectrum band and a second communication direction for the UE and thesecond cell on the second RF spectrum band; determine, in response tothe identified conflict, that the first cell has a priority over thesecond cell, wherein the priority is determined based at least in parton the first slot format configuration and the second slot formatconfiguration, or the first RF spectrum band and the second RF spectrumband, or a combination thereof; and communicate, during the portion ofthe TTI and based at least in part on the first slot formatconfiguration, on the first cell in the first communication directionbased at least in part on the first cell having the priority over thesecond cell.